Mowing-machine



(N0 Model.) J. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

MOWING MACHINE.

No. 476,318. Patented June 7, 1892,

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. SEIBERLING, OF AKRON, OHIO.

MOWlNG-MACHINE.

:ZPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent l \To. 476,318, dated June 7, 1892. Application filed December 10 1891. $erial No. 414,595. (No model.)

T0 on whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN F. SEIBERLING, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mowing-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

The invention relates to means for relieving the drag of the finger-beam on the ground and facilitating raising the beam in turning corners and lifting it to pass over obstructions; and it consists in a novel arrangement of flexible and elastic connection between the inner end of the finger-beam and the inner end of the coupling-arm through which the finger-beam is jointed to the machine-frame and through which, also, the beam is lifted, in the combination of the lifting-levers with said flexible connection, and in the combination, with the coupling-arm and tongue of the machine, of a supplemental elastic and flexible connection for further relieving the drag of the finger-beam on the ground, all as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of so much of a mowing-machine as is necessary to show my improvements with the finger-beam raised at its outer end for turning a corner or passing over an obstruction. Fig. 2 is also a front elevation showing the partsin operative position. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the spring-yoke; and Fig. 5 is afront view of the coupling-arm, finger-beam, and flexible connection, showing a modification in the stop or check link for said connection.

The machine in its organization may be of any usual or preferred form and arrangement of parts, that shown employing the cast tubular form of frame, consisting of a cylindrical box or casing for the gearing, having sleeves surrounding the axle and crank-shaft, the former of which pivots the frame and permits it to be rocked on the axle in a manner well understood, A indicating the frame of the machine, and B the pole or tongue hinged thereto or to the axle-sleeve A in any usual manner. To suitable lugs 61., near the forward end of the crank-shaft sleeve A is hinged the inner end of the coupling-arm C, to the outer swinging end of which the finger-beam D is hinged in any suitable manner, the joint or hinge connecting the inner end of the coupling-arm with the frame being preferably of a swiveling form, permitting the coupling-arm and finger-beam to be rocked on their longitudinal axes for raising or depressing the points of the fingers in a manner well understood. The coupling-arm O is further connected with the main frame by an obliquely-arranged brace O, pivoted at its forward end to said coupling-arm near the outer end of the latter and at its rear end to a lug a on the axle-sleeve, as shown. The coupling-arm is provided at or near its inner end with upright ears or lugs c, to which a spring-yoke E is pivoted through a perforated ear 6 at its inner end. The construction of this yoke is shown in detail View, Fig. 4:. It is made in the form substantially of a rectangular chain-link, one end of which is provided with the ear e referred to and the other perforated to permit the insertion of an eyebolt or rod E, which at its inner screw-threaded end engages a nut E having notched ends which engage and slide on the parallel sides of the link or yoke as ways. The bolt or rod E has one end of a chain F connected to its eye, the other end of said chain being connected to a lug or upright f, rigid on the finger-beam near its hinged'end. This uprightf is made, preferably, in the form of a short standard having a series of perforation in its length, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and through any one of which the chain may be secured to the standard for adjusting its leverage, as may be required. j

The yoke E has perforated lugs e e formed on one end, and from the upper one e a chain g extends upward to aquadrant-lever G, pivoted on the tongue or ton gue-socket, as shown. From the pendent lug c a chain g extends downward and is connected at its lower end to a lug c on the coupling-arm O, the latter chain serving as a stop or check, limiting the upward movement relative to the couplingarm of the flexible connection of which the spring-yoke E forms a part.

The rod or bolt E is surroundedbya spiral spring E which extends between the nut E and the perforated end of the yoke and serves by its tension to draw the bolt inward. By

screwing the rod more or less into the nut or slide E the tension of the spring can be adjusted as desired, and a jam-nut on the outer end of the rod serves to prevent accidental displacement.

The operation of the parts described will be readily understood. The driver in his seat H by vibrating the lever G backward deflects the flexible connection from its normal position with the parts in a right line, as shown in Fig. 2, until the stop-chain g prevents further deflection and the parts assume a position indicated in Fig. 1, thereby drawing inward on the upright or standard f and lifting the outer end of the finger-bar, as shown, for facilitating the turning of corners or pass in g over an obstruction. A further backward movement of the lever G will serve tolift the inner end of the finger-beam, thereby lifting said beam bodily.

It is sometimes necessary for the driver to use both hands in the management of his team, and to enable him to do this and still control the cutting apparatus the quadrant-lever is shown connected by a link I with the lower end of afoot lever or treadle I, pivoted in suitble lugs 1' on themain frame orsleeve A, and so arranged that the driver by pressing with his foot on the upper end of said lever can raise the finger-beam, as described.

In Fig. 5 the spring-yoke is shown located intermediate the ends of the flexible connection with chains F and F connected one to the lugs c and the other to the lugf, the latter passing over a grooved pulley mounted in lugs c on the outer end of the coupling-arm, thereby giving an upward lift on the fingerbeam. In this construction instead of the stop-chain g a link g is employed, one end of which is pivoted to the spring-yoke E, the other end having a wrist formed on it, carrying a friction-roller 9 which engages and moves back and forth in a yoke or strap g on the coupling-bar, thereby permitting the deflection of the flexible and elastic coupling consisting of the chain and its spring or spring-yoke.

For rocking the finger-beam on its longitudinal axis referred to a lever J is pivoted in suitable bearings on the axle-sleeve and has its forwardly-extending arm connected by a link with the rear end of an arm K, rigidly secured to the coupling-arm.

The tongue B is provided with abracket L, overhanging the coupling-arm and perforated to receive an eyebolt or rod 1, surrounded above the bracket and between the latter and a head or nut Z on the upper end of the rod Z by a spiral spring Z and from the eye at the lower end of said rod a chain m extends down to a lug on the coupling-arm. The length of this chain is sufflcient, in connection withthe compression of the spring by the weight thereon, to allow the finger-beam or the shoe at its inner end to rest and move lightly on the surface of the ground, thereby relieving the drag of the beam at said end.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire. to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of acoupling-bar hinged to the main frame at one end and at the other to the finger-bar, a flexible connection, one end of which is secured to the inner end of the coupling-bar and the other to a rigid upright on the inner end of the finger-bar, a spring the tension of which is adjustable, located in said connection intermediate its ends, and a lifting-lever connected to said flexible connection and to the coupling-bar, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a coupling-bar hinged to the main frame and a finger-bar hinged to the outer end thereof, of a flexible connection secured'at one end to the inner end of the finger-bar and at the other to the inner end of the coupling-bar, a spring intermediate the ends of said flexible connection, and a treadle-lever connected with said flexible connection and coupling-bar,substantially as described.

3. The combination of a double-jointed coupling-bar between the main frame and the finger-beam, a flexible connection secured to the inner end of the coupling-bar and theinner end of the finger-beam, a spring in said connection, a stop link'or chain between the said flexible connection and the coupling-bar, a hand-lever supported on the main frame, and a connection between the lever and said flexible connection, substantially as described.

4. The combination of the main frame, a hinged coupling-bar and a cutting apparatus hinged thereto, a flexible connection between. the cutting apparatus and the coupling-bar, a spring the tension of which is adjustable, located intermediate the ends of said flexible connection for supporting the free end of the cutting apparatus, a spring relieving the drag of the cutting apparatus as a whole, and a lifting-lever connected to said flexible connection and having a stop-link connection with the coupling-bar, whereby the cutting apparatus can be raised at its outer end only or bodily, as described.

5. The combination of the double-jointed coupling-bar, the flexible connection provided with a spring intermediate its ends and secured at one end to the inner end of the coupling-bar and at the other to the inner end of the finger-beaimthe lifting-lever connected with said flexible connection and with the coupling-bar, a treadle supported on the main frame and connected with the lifting-lever, flexible connection, and couplingbar, and the drivers seat, all substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of December, A. D. 1891.

JNO. F. SEIBERLING.

Witnesses:

W. G. WISE, J ESSIE P. CURTISS.

ICC 

